Candidates and their Agents must follow certain rules when becoming a prospective candidate. They must follow the Code of Conduct for Campaigners and the law on imprints on printed material. The Electoral Commission has provided guidance on these which can be found at:
Code of Conduct for Campaigners at UK Parliamentary general elections in Great Britain, local elections in England and Police and Crime Commissioner Elections
Imprints on printed material: Candidates at UK Parliamentary elections and elections in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Their wider guidance includes advice on:
- spending
- donations
- nominations
- postal votes
- polling day
- the verification and count
- what happens after the result has been declared
It also includes a number of resources.
The full guidance can be found here:
Guidance for Candidates and Agents at local government elections in England
Canvassing is an integral part of the democratic process. It is a great way to engage with constituents. Canvassing encourages voters to participate and helps you to ensure you know what issues are affecting them. The Local Government Association has provided a useful guide for councillors and candidates. It sets out seven principles and practical hints for safe canvassing and can be found below:
- Seven principles for safer canvassing: A guide for councillors and candidates
Helpful resources for campaigning online
The BBC has a helpful basic guide to getting on-line called BBC First Click Beginners Guide
The Local Government Association has useful advice for Councillors on using social media:
All the main social media companies have helpful guides to using their tools.